Where is the safest place for a car seat in the back of a car?
Which side of the car would generally be considered the safest to place a child car seat on the back bench seat (passenger side or driver)??
I already have a car seat in the middle.
10 Responses
Alexandra
10 Jul 2010
bearysarah
10 Jul 2010
The middle of the back seat is the best, because you can see the baby through your mirror. Make sure the seat is secure so baby won’t fall out.
Chris F
10 Jul 2010
I would say the safest is in the middle, as that way you are equally protected from right or left T-bone collisions, plus you may be able to see the child in your mirror or over your shoulder.
Baron_von_Party
10 Jul 2010
I agree with the middle, but you have one in the middle already. Can they be placed so they are an equal distance away from the door? In other words put them next to each other with the center line of where the seats join being right in the middle of the car’s back seat?
singer chick
10 Jul 2010
i think its best in the middle even thought you have it there already i say keep it because if a car comes and hits your car it will hit by the doors and in the middle the chile will be less hurt
MIKE D
10 Jul 2010
AS A FIREFIGHTER WE SERVE MANY WEEKENDS AT THE LOCAL MALL ON THIS EXCACT PROBLEM THE RIGHT ANSWER IS BEHIND THE PASS SEAT BECAUSE AS A PARENT IF YOU MUST LOOK BACK TO HELP OR SEE THE CHILD ITS EASIER TH SEE THEM THERE AND ALSO MOST CAR WRECKS ARE CROSSING THE CENTER LINE SUCH AS ALMOS HEADON AND BACKING WRECKS SO IF THE CENTER SEATBELT IS FULL ALWAYS PLACE #2 BEHIND THE PASS SEAT
GOOD LUCK MIKE.
childofevil2003
10 Jul 2010
In the back seat middle is the safest so put the child you care the most about there and then pick a side for the other…….
If you have back seats with the bag protectors is dangerous for a child but if you don’t then don’t worry too much if it’s time to die you can do little about it to change it!!
Good luck!
Cindy
10 Jul 2010
well I would be scared to put it in the middle coz it could fly out the front window in an accident. But, if its a baby then u put the carseat in the back passanger’s side facing backwards. Meaning the baby seas the back seat and not the front. (get it?) but if it’s a grown child (like a toddler) then the car seat can be facing the front like normal.
Rocker Dude
10 Jul 2010
The middle or right behind the driver’s seat.
EDIT: Oh, you have one in the middle already? How about on the front passenger seat? Next to the driver seat.
wendytischler
10 Jul 2010
The statistical differences are actually much slighter than people realize.
The center is the safest. And as such the LEAST protected child should go there. So if you have a shoulder and lap belt there a child in a booster or in nothing would get the middle. If you have a forward facing child and a rear facing child the forward facing child goes in the middle. Rear facing is safest, using the seatbelt only is least safe, and each step down the continuum is one less safe than the one before it.
If you have two rearfacing or two forward facing, then it doesn’t matter too much where they go. Middle and outside, both outside, doesn’t matter. Any statistical differences will be trumped by installation and convenience. Statisically the passenger side is slightly better, especially if you do a lot of parking on the roadway. But if you have two kids right next to one another and they’re always fighing, or if older child is trying to stuff crayons into baby’s mouth and nose constantly, then that distraction has made their locations unsafe.
Just remember, you have to have good solid installations of both seats independently of one another if you have two right next to each other. Meaning you can’t call one in nice and tight because the other one is helping hold it down. They need to be as secure in there together as they would be separately. If you can’t get them in securely then you need to move them around. Installation is more important than position.
Passenger. If the child sitting in it is facing forward, you don’t want the child to kick your seat while you’re trying to drive.